From Goodreads: Dark Stars, edited by John F.D. Taff, is a tribute to horror’s longstanding short fiction legacy, featuring 12 terrifying original stories from today's most noteworthy authors, with an introduction by bestselling author Josh Malerman and an afterword by Ramsey Campbell.
Created as an homage to the 1980 classic horror anthology, Dark Forces, edited by Kirby McCauley, this collection contains 12 original novelettes showcasing today’s top horror talent. Dark Stars features all-new stories from award-winning authors and up-and-coming voices like Stephen Graham Jones, Priya Sharma, Usman T. Malik, Caroline Kepnes, and Alma Katsu, with seasoned author John F.D. Taff at the helm. An afterword from original Dark Forces contributor Ramsey Campbell is a poignant finale to this bone-chilling collection.
Within these pages you’ll find tales of dead men walking, an insidious secret summer fling, an island harboring unspeakable power, and a dark hallway that beckons. You’ll encounter terrible monsters—both human and supernatural—and be forever changed. The stories in Dark Stars run the gamut from traditional to modern, from dark fantasy to neo-noir, from explorations of beloved horror tropes to the unknown—possibly unknowable—threats.
It’s all in here because it’s all out there, now, in horror.
This Review is Spoiler Free!
Dark Stars is a wonderful showcase of works from a broad range of some the horror genre's most iconic authors. This collection is a great survey of several different subgenres, and there truly is a story here for everyone. That being said, I think the best way to review this collection is to individually address and rate each story.
The Attentionist by Caroline Kepnes
4/5 Stars. I really enjoyed this look at suburban horror through the lens of a young girl. Chilling and well done.
A Life in Nightmares, by Ramsey Campbell
2/5 Stars. This one felt very stream of consciousness to me, not my cup of tea
Papa Eye, by Priya Sharma
3/5 stars. Really loved the unique setting of this one.
Volcano, by Livia Llewellyn
3/5 Stars. The creepy basement of a college dorm was a fun setting to read, however the cosmic horror in this one felt a little bit vague. I think that was the intention, but not my favorite.
All the Things He Called Memories, by Stephen Graham Jones
4/5 Stars. I really liked this one! A husband and wife trapped in their house during Covid find themselves talking about her latest scientific experiment put on hold by the pandemic. The conversations awaken old demons.
Trinity River's Blues, by Chesya Burke
4/5 Stars. This one was also really great, and I want to seek out more by this author!
The Familiar's Assistant, by Alma Katsu
4/5 Stars. This one was super creepy and well done! Great worldbuilding while still feeling "complete" as a short story.
Swim in the Blood of a Curious Dream, by John F.D. Taff
5/5 Stars. This one was my favorite! Which is surprising because I'm absolutely emetephobic. However this fell into one of my favorite types of horror - expansion upon the already horrific.
The Sanguintalist, by Gemma Files
2/5 Stars. This one felt really rushed and more high concept than the short fiction lens allowed for. While well written, I found myself really wanting more from this one.
Mrs. Addison's Nest, by Josh Malerman
2/5 Stars. I really thought I'd like this one more, and there was some truly chilling imagery here. Just, not for me.
Challawa, by Usman T. Malik
4/5 Stars. While very different from the Taff story, this one also ended up blending in real world horror and expanding upon it. Lots of great imagery and that ending was amazing.
Enough for Hunger and Enough for Hate, by John Langan
4.5/5 Stars. This one was super creepy. Clarice and Hannibal Lecter vibes with Creature Feature elements.
Overall, Dark Stars was a fun read. While there are certain stories I really liked and others that just weren't my thing, that always tends to happen with survey anthologies. Definitely hoping to check out other works by many of these authors as well!
*I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and views in this review are my own.
~ Charlotte
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